Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Manila

GUIDELINES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS UNDER THE

COVID-19

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation Nos. 922 and 929, Series of 2020 declaring a State of
Public Health Emergency and Calamity throughout the Philippines due to COVID-19 and in view
of the extended implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General
Community Quarantine (GCQ), the following construction safety guidelines, supplemental to the
existing safety standards, are hereby established for the construction of infrastructure projects.

A. Prior to Deployment

1. Only persons ranging from Twenty-One (21) to Fifty-Nine (59) years of age, without
pre-existing health conditions and who did not come into contact with someone with
COVID-19 shall be allowed to be included in the workforce.

2. Qualified personnel shall be required to undergo medical examination to determine the

need to undergo COVID-19 testing prior to site deployment, and retested as the need
arises.

3. Consultation with medical doctors (duly accredited by DOH, if possible) prior to the
conduct of Rapid Testing for COVID-19 as per Doctor’s recommendation.

4. Construction quarantine passes shall be issued by the DPWH IO to the individual

qualified personnel of the concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers,
clearly stating the identification, designation, nature of work, validity and destination.
(See Annex A – Construction Quarantine Pass Format )

5. The concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers shall provide for their
personnel/workers the necessary welfare facilities and amenities, such as employees’
quarters for board and lodging, ensuring compliance to social distancing, proper
hygiene, etc. (See Annex B – Design and Layout Plans of Facilities )

6. For big ticket projects, fully stocked site clinics shall be set up within the compound to
be manned by qualified medical personnel as per DOLE D.O. no. 13, s. 1998. Ensure the
personnel and workers have continuous supply of vitamins, particularly vitamin C, other
over - the - counter medicines, quarantine facilities, and oxygen tanks for emergency
purposes.

7. Disinfection tents shall be installed at every entry and exit point to the field office and
employees’ quarters; while handwashing stations, toilets, and baths shall be placed at
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strategic locations to ensure the safety and welfare of all personnel. (See Annex C –
Design and Location Plans of Disinfection Tents)

8. Proper information dissemination regarding COVID-19 construction protocols on top of

existing construction safety practices shall be conducted by Safety Officers to all
personnel.

9. Personal records of all personnel necessary for contact tracing shall be submitted by the
concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to the DPWH IO and shall be
resubmitted and updated monthly, or as the need arises. (See Annex D – Worker’s
Records Log Format)

B. Once Personnel are Deployed

1. Conduct an inventory of works for the construction sequencing to be followed and

undertaken to uphold the required social distancing. Break times shall be conducted in a
staggered manner.

2. Employees shall be housed in their respective quarters for the entire duration of the
project covered by the ECQ. Otherwise, “Prior to Deployment” procedures shall be
conducted at every instance of re-entry.

3. Errands to be conducted outside the construction site premises shall be kept to a

minimum. Number of personnel running errands shall be limited and shall be properly
disinfected and closely monitored for symptoms within fourteen (14) days upon re-entry.

4. Field offices, employees’ quarters, and other common areas shall be regularly
maintained including the daily disinfection of such facilities.

5. Adequate food, safe/potable drinking water, disinfectants, and hand soaps shall be
made available by the concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to its
in – house personnel.

6. Daily monitoring of the pre and post work health conditions of workers shall be
undertaken by the concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers including,
but not limited to, temperature, health, and exposure monitoring, as preventive
measures. A daily health monitoring report to be prepared by the Safety Officer shall be
submitted to the DPWH IO. Personnel with manifestations or symptoms relative to
COVID-19 shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for fourteen (14) days and if
necessary, brought to the nearest DOH COVID-19 treatment facility under strict
confidentiality and privacy.
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7. Work activities shall be under daily strict monitoring by the Safety Officer at site to
ensure compliance to safety standards and quarantine protocols.

8. The DPWH Engineers assigned at the site shall ensure strict compliance to DOLE D.O.
13, series of 1998, and implementation of wearing additional Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) required such as, but not limited to, face masks, safety
glasses/goggles, face shields, and long sleeve T-shirts, to contain the spread of COVID-
19 in the workplace.

9. For off-site employees’ quarters, transport service, duly disinfected before and after use,
shall be provided, with social distancing observed.

10. Sharing of construction and office equipment is discouraged. However, if necessary, the
shared equipment must be disinfected in between transfers amongst personnel.

11. All material and equipment delivery and disposal shall be conducted by a specific team
of personnel on an isolated loading/unloading zone while limiting contact with the
delivery/disposal personnel. All material and/or equipment entering the construction site
shall be duly disinfected, as possible.

12. Non-essential personnel, visitors, and the general public shall be restricted to enter the
construction site, employees’ quarters, and field offices. Otherwise, all personnel
entering the construction site premises on a temporary basis (e.g. Delivery truck drivers,
inspectors, etc.) shall be properly logged and checked for symptoms. Gatherings,
Liquors, and/or merry – making are strictly prohibited within the construction site
premises.

13. Clustered and staggered deployment of employees within the construction site shall be
observed to minimize personnel contact and for easier contact tracing.

14. Proper waste disposal shall be provided for infectious waste such as PPEs and other
waste products coming from outside the construction premises.

C. Penalties

1. Provisions with corresponding pay items of work which are not satisfactorily undertaken
as certified by the DPWH Project Engineer shall be deducted to the payment.
2. Violation of any of the abovementioned provisions shall be subject to the appropriate
penalties set forth in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, as well as existing laws, rules
and regulations.

In case any of the workers in the project become COVID-19 positive, medical expenses shall be
shouldered by the contractor.
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For existing projects, abovementioned provisions which entail cost adjustments shall be
addressed through Variation Orders as warranted and justified subject to existing laws and
guidelines.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

MARK A. VILLAR
Secretary

6.1 ECG/EAA